The National Qualifier is the sixth and final qualifying event for 2007. Over 780 athletes, ranging in age from 6-32, are expected to compete. The competition will begin at 8:30 a.m. on both days. Tickets may be purchased at the door. Adult (11-59) tickets are $10 for a single-day pass or $16 for a two-day pass. Children (4-10) and seniors (60+) are $7 for a single-day pass and $12 for a two-day pass.

Other USAT National Qualifiers held in 2007 were in Dallas, Texas (March 17-18), Portland, Ore. (April 14-15), Providence, R.I. (April 21-22), Kansas City, Mo. (April 28-29) and Miami, Fla. (May 26-27).

The National Qualifiers are qualification events for those athletes interested in competing in the World Class Division at the 2007 USA Junior Olympic Taekwondo Championships and the 2007 USAT National Taekwondo Championships. Each of the top four black belt athletes per weight division in the male divisions and the top four black belt athletes in the female divisions at each qualifier will qualify for the World Class division at the USA Junior Olympic Taekwondo Championships and the USAT Senior National Championships (July 10-15 in San Jose, Calif.).

Athletes that medal in the World Class Division at the Junior Olympics and USAT Nationals also have a chance to qualify for development camps hosted by the USAT and further advance to international competitions. The World Class Division is an important element for the USAT in recognizing talent with the potential to represent the USA in future international competitions. The gold medalists from the World Class Division at the 2007 USA Junior Olympic Taekwondo Championships in San Jose will qualify for the Junior National Team Trials in Colorado Springs, Colo., Aug. 25-26. Winners from the Team Trials will compete at the Junior Pan American Championships in Daytona Beach, Fla., Oct. 5-6.

Senior competitors that finish in the top two at the Senior National Championships in San Jose will qualify for the Olympic Team Trials scheduled for Aug. 23-25 in Colorado Springs, Colo.

Top competitors in the Fresno National Qualifier include 2007 world championship bronze medalist Charlotte Craig (Murrieta, Calif.); 2005 Junior National Team member Thomas Stockton (Albuquerque, N.M.); 2006 Junior National Team members Jade Lopez (Union City, Calif.) and Cody Stanger (Walnut, Calif.); 2006 national bronze medalists Nathan Salcido (San Jose, Calif.), Kristina Bowen (Vancouver, Wash.) and Dwayne Dews (Cincinnati, Ohio); six-time Senior National Team member Sanaz Shahbazi (Colorado Springs, Colo.); 2004 national bronze medalist John Drath (Orinda, Calif.); 2006 national champion Natalie Aguilar (Los Angeles, Calif.); and 2007 U.S. Open gold medalists Damian Villa (Los Angeles, Calif.) and Jensen Ishida (Waipahu, Hawaii).

For more information or to reserve a media credential, contact Bill Kellick at 719-866-3626 or 719-232-7792.